---
title: litter — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «litter» in the school dictionary: Litter is rubbish like paper, cans and wrappers left lying on the ground in a public place. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# litter

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Litter rubbish, litter, Cat litter, cat, you, class · **What happens:** be, leave, lie, bear, use, spread · **To what, where:** Litter rubbish, ground, group, baby animals, material, tray

<!-- .vabout -->
«litter» in the school dictionary: its 5 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [litter in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/litter.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Litter is rubbish like paper, cans and wrappers left lying on the ground in a public place.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litter:m1:1
# text = Litter is rubbish like paper, cans and wrappers left lying on the ground in a public place.
1	Litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	rubbish	rubbish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	paper	paper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	cans	can	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	wrappers	wrapper	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	conj	_	_
10	left	leave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	lying	lie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	xcomp	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	public	public	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | Litter rubbish |  |  |  | like paper | tree rules |
| 2 | **leave** | past | Litter rubbish |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **lie** | gerund | Litter rubbish *not said here* |  |  | the ground |  | in a public place | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on ground=Location |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A litter is a group of baby animals born to one mother at the same time.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litter:m2:1
# text = A litter is a group of baby animals born to one mother at the same time.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	born	bear	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	at	at	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
15	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a litter | a group |  |  |  | of baby animals | tree rules |
| 2 | **bear** | participle |  | baby animals *not said here* |  |  | time | to one mother | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cat litter is the material in a tray that a cat uses as a toilet.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litter:m3:1
# text = Cat litter is the material in a tray that a cat uses as a toilet.
1	Cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	material	material	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	tray	tray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	obj	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
12	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
13	as	as	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	toilet	toilet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Cat litter | the material |  | a tray |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | present | a cat | a tray |  |  |  | as a toilet | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent that=Duration as toilet=Attribute |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To litter is to drop rubbish on the ground, or to be spread untidily over a place.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litter:m4:1
# text = To litter is to drop rubbish on the ground, or to be spread untidily over a place.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	advcl	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	drop	drop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	rubbish	rubbish	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
13	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	aux:pass	_	_
14	spread	spread	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	conj	_	_
15	untidily	untidily	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
16	over	over	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	place	place	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  | the ground |  | drop *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **spread** | to-infinitive · passive |  |  |  | a place |  | untidily *property* | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: over place=Location |

## Meaning 5 {#m5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A litter is a bed or chair carried on poles by people, used in the past to carry someone.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litter:m5:1
# text = A litter is a bed or chair carried on poles by people, used in the past to carry someone.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bed	bed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	chair	chair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	carried	carry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	poles	pole	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl	_	_
11	by	by	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obl:agent	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	12	acl	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	past	past	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
18	to	to	PART	TO	_	19	mark	_	_
19	carry	carry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	advcl	_	_
20	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a litter | a bed or chair |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **carry** | participle |  | a bed or chair *not said here* |  | poles |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **use** | participle |  | people *not said here* |  | the past |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **carry** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Please don't drop litter in the park.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litter:x1:1
# text = Please don't drop litter in the park.
1	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	drop	drop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **drop** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | litter |  | the park |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent litter=Theme in park=Destination |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our class went litter picking on the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litter:x2:1
# text = Our class went litter picking on the beach.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	picking	pick	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	acl	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | Our class | litter |  |  |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location litter=Theme |
| 2 | **pick** | gerund | litter *not said here* |  |  |  |  | on the beach | vn chew-39.2 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent on beach=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog had a litter of six puppies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litter:x3:1
# text = The dog had a litter of six puppies.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	six	six	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	puppies	puppy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the dog | a litter of six puppies |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent litter=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put your wrapper in the litter bin.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litter:x4:1
# text = Put your wrapper in the litter bin.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	wrapper	wrapper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	bin	bin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* | your wrapper |  | the litter bin |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent wrapper=Theme in bin=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Clean the cat's litter tray every day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litter:x5:1
# text = Clean the cat's litter tray every day.
1	Clean	clean	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	tray	tray	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **clean** | imperative | you *not said here* | the cat's litter tray |  |  | day |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent tray=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toys littered the bedroom floor.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litter:x6:1
# text = Toys littered the bedroom floor.
1	Toys	toy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	littered	litter	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	bedroom	bedroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	floor	floor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **litter** | past | Toys | the bedroom floor |  |  |  |  | vn calve-28.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent floor=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the meantime the Princess Cabbage-Stalk had reached the palace, travelling in a litter.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:litter:x7:1
# text = In the meantime the Princess Cabbage-Stalk had reached the palace, travelling in a litter.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	meantime	meantime	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	Princess	Princess	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	Cabbage	cabbage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	Stalk	Stalk	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
9	had	have	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	reached	reach	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	palace	palace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	travelling	travel	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	advcl	_	_
15	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	litter	litter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reach** | past · perfect · passive |  | the Princess Cabbage |  | the meantime |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP.beneficiary NP»: subject=Beneficiary palace=Theme |
| 2 | **travel** | gerund |  |  |  | a litter |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in litter=Trajectory |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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